Strengthened roof-wall bracket

ABSTRACT

A strengthened, inexpensive roof-to-wall bracket that includes two perpendicularly aligned wall flange members, integrally formed on a wall transverse member, and two perpendicularly aligned rafter flange members integrally formed on the wall transverse member. Disposed under the corners between the two wall flange members and the wall transverse member is and L-shaped secondary angle member. In the preferred embodiment, the L-shaped angle member formed by cutting a square or rectangular cutout in the adjoining wall flange member and then bending the waste material upward to form the angle member. The angle member is disposed along the corners and along the adjoining inside surfaces of the wall flange member and the wall transverse member. Optional welds may be used to physically connect the angle member to the inside surfaces of the wall flange and wall transverse member. Optional gussets may be formed on the corners between the wall flange surface and the wall transverse member for added strength.

This utility patent application is based on the provisional patentapplication (Ser. No. 60/536,687) filed on Jan. 15, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of building brackets, andmore particularly to brackets that connect a building's roof structuralmembers to its wall structures.

2. Description of the Related Art

The roof on a house is made of a plurality of trusses suspended betweenvertical walls. On a pitch roof, each truss is typically made of twodiagonally aligned rafters attached together at their upper ends. Thelower distal ends of the rafters are attached to the top sill plates onthe vertical walls. A ceiling joist may extend horizontally between thetwo vertical walls and interconnect the distal ends of the rafterlocated on opposite sides of the building.

Heretofore, brackets have been used to connect the distal ends of therafters to the top sill plates on the vertical walls. Unfortunately,such brackets commonly fail during high wind conditions therebydestroying the entire roof along with many items located inside thebuilding.

What is needed is an improved roof-to-wall bracket designed to withstandhigh wind conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedroof-to-wall bracket designed to withstand high wind conditions that isalso relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects of the present invention are met by theroof-to-wall bracket disclosed herein that includes two perpendicularlyaligned, wall flange members integrally formed on opposite ends of awall transverse member, and two perpendicularly aligned rafter flangemembers integrally formed on the opposite sides of the wall transversemember. Disposed under or over the corners between the two wall flangemembers and the wall transverse member are two reinforcing, L-shapedsecondary angle members. In the preferred embodiment, each L-shapedsecondary angle member is formed from the waste material created bycutting a square or rectangular cutout in the adjoining wall flangemember and then bending the waste material upward to form an anglesupport member that fits under or over the corner between the wallflange member and the wall transverse member. Optional welds may be usedto physically connect the secondary angle member to the surfaces of thewall flange member and wall transverse member.

Optional gussets may be formed on the outside surfaces of the cornersbetween the wall flange member and the wall transverse member foradditional strength.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the roof-to-wall bracket disclosedherein being used to securely attach a root truss to the sill plate on awall.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a section of the bracket showing theoptional gussets and welds formed on the corners between a wall flangemember and a wall transverse member and before the secondary anglemember and the wall transverse member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

As shown in the accompanying Figs. is a roof-to-wall bracket 10 designedto provide additional strength and support between the roof rafter 5 andthe top sill plate 7 on the studded wall of a building. The bracket 10includes two downward, extending, perpendicularly aligned wall flangemembers 20, 30 integrally formed on the opposite ends of a walltransverse member 40. Extending upward and perpendicularly aligned withthe transverse member 40 and the two wall flange members 20, 30 are twoparallel rafter flange members 50, 60. The rafter flange members 50, 60are integrally formed on the opposite sides of the wall transversemember 40 and spaced apart to receive a single 2×4 or double 2×4 rafter.Disposed adjacent to the inside surfaces 21, 31 of the two wall flangemembers 20, 30 and the inside surface 41 of the wall transverse member40 are two L-shaped secondary angle members 70, 75. The secondary anglemembers 70, 75 are longitudinally aligned with the wall transversemember 40.

During installation, the two wall flange members 20, 30 are designed tobe aligned and then nailed or bolted to the opposite outside and insidesurfaces 21, 31 of the top sill plate 7. Formed on each wall flangemember 20, 30 is a substantially square central opening 22, 32,respectively. The central openings 22, 32 are formed by cutting alongthree edges and then bending it inward thereby forming a squareintegrally attached waste material. The waste material is then bent intoan L-shaped angle member 70, 75. In the preferred embodiment, the anglemembers 70, 75 are forced inward and folded in half thereby forming afolded corner 71, 76 respectively that is aligned with the adjoiningcorner 26,28 and to fit under the inside surface 21, 31, of the wallflange member 20, 30, respectively, and the inside surfaces 41 of thewall transverse member 40. It should be understood that the angles 70,75 may be separate structures welded or attached on the outer surfacesof the wall flange members 20, 30 and the wall transverse member 40.

The wall transverse member 40 is designed to extend transversely overthe top sill plate on a 2×4, 2×6, 2×8 studded or non-studded wall. Thetwo rafter flange members 50, 60 are perpendicularly aligned and extendupward from the wall transverse member 40. As shown in FIG. 2, in thepreferred embodiment, each rafter flange member 50, 60 includes a lowerrectangular-shaped body 52 and an upward extending neck section 54.Formed on each lower rectangular-shaped body 52 are two verticallyaligned rows of three nail holes 56. An optional fourth nail hole 57 isformed on the upward extending neck section 54 aligned with the lowerrow of nail holes 56 on the lower rectangular-shaped body 52.

The wall flange member 20, 30, is perpendicularly aligned and extendsdownward from the wall transverse member 40. In the preferredembodiment, the wall flange members 20, 30 are square with a pluralityof nail holes formed therein.

As discussed above, the L-shaped angle member 70, 75 are formed bycutting a square or rectangular cutout in the adjoining wall flangemember 20, 30 and then bending the waste material upward into anL-shaped configuration. The angle member 70, 75 are then bent so thatthe apex of the corner 71, 76, respectively, is aligned and registeredwith the apex of the corner 26, 28 between the adjacent wall flangemember 20, 30 and the wall transverse member 40, respectively. Optionalwelds 79 may be used to physically connect the angle members 70, 75 tothe inside surfaces 41 of the wall transverse member 40.

To increase the tensile strength of the bracket 10, one or more optionalgussets 80, 80′ may be provided on the two corners 26, 28 between thewall flange members 20, 30 and the wall transverse member 40.

In the preferred embodiment, the bracket 10 is designed to be used on 6inch wide top sill plates and 1½ inch thick rafters. The brackets 10 aremade of 16 gauge galvanized steel plate material.

In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features.It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothe specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, iscomprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the inventioninto effect. The invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amendedclaims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

1. A roof-to-wall bracket comprising: a. a wall transverse membercapable of extending over the top surface of a wall; b. two parallelwall flange members integrally formed on opposite sides of said walltransverse member; c. two parallel rafter flange members integrallyformed on the wall transverse member, said rafter flange members beingperpendicularly aligned with said wall transverse members and said wallflange members; d. at least one L-shaped secondary angle member disposedunder the inside surfaces of one said wall flange member and theadjacent inside surface of said wall transverse member; and, e. at leastone gusset formed on the corner between said wall transverse member andsaid wall flange member
 2. The roof-to-wall bracket, as recited in claim1 wherein said secondary angle member is integrally attached to theadjacent said wall flange member.
 3. The roof-to-wall bracket, asrecited in claim 1, wherein said secondary angle member is formed bycutting waste material from the adjacent wall flange member and thebending said waste material to form said L-shaped structure.
 4. Theroof-to-wall bracket, as recited in claim 1, wherein said secondaryangle member is welded to said inside surface of said wall transversewall.